Two Must See Presentations for Librarians

There’s no question about it: the traditional perception of the library is rapidly eroding, and we’re increasingly left wondering what the library “is.” But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As a matter of fact, it’s an opportunity that many pioneering librarians are taking to reinvent the library as exciting, bustling and community-centric institutions. As Surrey’s Chief Librarian Beth Barlow said, the library is no longer a “warehouse for old books” but is now a vibrant place vital to communities everywhere.

Indeed, redefining the library has been a topic that’s been on the tip of many tongues for a number of years now. It’s an exciting subject, and one that’s bringing together people from all different fields including academia, public service, info-technology and multimedia.

Here are two fantastic presentations delivered at Internet Librarian 2012 on the topic that librarians should check out:

This presentation showcases the innovative design of the Taylor Family Digital Library at the University of Calgary. This library officially opened its doors in the fall of 2011, and has continued to make headlines since. It’s a revolutionary library, mixing technology, vision and creativity together. With features like visualization walls, display walls, advanced digital infrastructure and a retro games room, the Taylor Family Digital Library certainly stands apart from the rest. Download the PowerPoint presentation to see their concept plans and the library’s findings – what worked well in the library, and what didn’t work so well. For a virtual tour of the library, click here.

This presentation was delivered by Lee Rainie, Director of Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project. This presentation is loaded with facts and figures showcasing the many aspects of library usage. It’s a fantastic resource, showing numerical trends in overall usage, patron awareness of services, assistance requests and e-lending.

Libraries all over the world are leading the digital revolution, embracing innovative technologies and services. Library PressDisplay is a valued addition to libraries making the transition to digital, supplementing periodical departments with a growing catalogue of over 2,300 newspapers and magazines from 98 countries and in 55 languages.

To request a free trial of Library PressDisplay for your library, click here.